Indy 500 qualifying 2026 : Weather forces scheduling change
Here is the qualifying order and new schedule for the 2026 Indianapolis 500
Crews stand on pit lane as a weather advisory is issued on Saturday, May 16, 2026, ahead of qualifying for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. | Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Due to persistent rain in the area on Saturday, qualifying for the 110th Indianapolis 500 has been moved to Sunday, making the event a single-day affair. Under the scheduling change, all all qualifiers will line up starting at 12:00 p.
m. Eastern Time on Sunday, based on Friday’s qualifying draw and have one attempt to post a traditional four-lap qualifying speed. The fastest 12 qualifiers will move on, while the other 21 drivers will slot into spots 33-13 in the field for the 110th Indianapolis 500.
The top 12 will head directly to a knockout round, scheduled for approximately 4:30 p. m. Eastern Time.
As with previous years, the order of the Top 12 begins in reverse of qualifying speeds from the cars’ initial qualifying attempts, leading off with the 12th-fastest car all the way through the fastest car from the initial qualifying attempt. Each car will have one attempt in this knockout stage. Those finishing seventh through 12th will fill out starting positions seven through 12 according to their time and speed.